Chapter 71

Chapter 71

“You did say both.”

“I just answered your question. Or perhaps you mean something else?”

From behind, she could see Jean covering his face with both hands.

Wow, it’s easy for you to act like that behind their back because they can’t see you.

“So what do you think, Benzel?”

“There is a phrase called ‘a frog in a well,’ your Highness. And the Luverne Duchy is really far from the capital.”

Nina thought she really hated this situation.

It’s much easier to just ask for a duel, what is this?

They ask questions they already know the answer to, spit out provocations, then check out and watch their opponent’s reaction.

‘They look like an owner provoking their opponent before releasing her dog in the arena, don’t they know that?’

She stared blankly at Benzel and he frowned slightly.

‘He’s pretty but mug-faced.’

Just like a big, fair-faced, idiot.

‘You’re the perfect type to play with. It won’t last long.’

As she gave a bitter evaluation in her heart, Princess Vialentel told Adrian.

“So both of them are fine. Can I borrow your garden, Duke?”

“Princess, if you’d like to compete with my knight commander for the ‘best sword’ title, please officially apply for a duel. My knights are not for entertainment.”

At Adrian’s words, Vialentel looked at him.

I thought she stopped for a moment.

Her eyes are like the glass eyes of a doll, Nina thought.

While looking at her like that, the princess laughed.

“Okay, I’ll do that. Let’s leave, Benzel.”

As Benzel passed by Nina, he whispered in a low but clear voice.

“You’ll pay for your arrogance one day.”

Nina replied, “Please, be my guest,” then Benzel paused as if he was ready to draw his sword at any moment, but when the princess didn’t stop, he immediately followed.

‘Oh, you’re not that stupid after all. Fair enough to be a Commander.’

Thanks to Mimina, who was watching the situation, quickly calling the carriage, it was already prepared when Vialentel left the front door.

As the carriage carrying the Princess left, Jean jumped and shouted.

“Isn’t that on purpose!”

Nina looked at Jean, and he said in a fit of irritation.

“We were in the middle of a conversation when suddenly, she said she’s going out for a while because she had something to do. When me and His Grace followed, she was already with you. I’m glad we came. All along I thought she was going to the bathroom.”

They never imagined that she would be talking with Nina here.

Nina folded her arms.

“Oh, no wonder she came out of the blue. But how did she find out I already arrived?”

Jean’s eyes narrowed at Nina’s words. He looked around quickly, and Mimina, who had been standing firmly from before, brushed his gaze and shrugged her shoulders.

Jean’s expression relaxed at the sight. He scratched his head and said.

“We were the only ones in the room.”

“I suppose so.”

Nina habitually swept down her hair.

“Did you win?”

Jean, who noticed Mimina’s existence, quickly changed his way of speech and asked Nina, who shrugged.

“As expected.”

Jean shook his head and folded his arms.

“He looked strong, too.”

“Benzel? Yeah. He looked strong.”

“Even in your eyes?”

“Yeah, that’s why he’s in charge of the Lilies. And as far as I can see, he’s very strong.”

“Are you actually saying that or you’re just giving him sympathy for bravely trying to provoke you?”

“It’s all about the feeling.”

“I really don’t think that’s it.”

“Perhaps I’m just feeling inferior?”

“What, are you kidding me?”

Adrian looked at Nina playing with Jean and seriously said, “I didn’t expect to get into a fight while we’re here.”

Jean was teasing Nina, saying, ‘You, acting all weak? If you really do, then let’s have a go at it,’ then Nina playfully glanced at Jean before saying, ‘Make sure you’re ready to lose,’ and quickly responded to Adrian’s words.

“Right? I was surprised, too. Besides, he’s the commander of the Lily knights. Is it okay to say openly that he chose her side? He even called her, ‘Your Highness.’”

‘Your Highness’ is a designation given to the heir to the throne, not a candidate for the throne.

“They’re cousins.”

“Ah······.”

Nina glanced at Adrian, spouting an “Ah,” which had a lot of meaning. Adrian noticed the gaze and said to Jean.

“Let’s go up together.”

“I’ll change my clothes and follow you right away.”

Jean went up to the room with Adrian in a bewildered mood, and soon, Nina, who changed her clothes, came in.

Taking off her uniform, she was dressed in a casual tunic.

“So what did you talk about?”

Nina plopped down on a nearby sofa and asked. Jean was the only one standing in the room.

“Somehow, this was also a good thing.”

Jean frowned at Adrian’s words, and Nina tilted her head.

“Do you really want to do this?”

“Yes.”

“Hold on, Your Grace. How did the conversation change into that topic?”

At Jean’s protest, Adrian asked back, “Then do you have another plan?” Jean groaned.

“No matter how you look at it, they’re saying ‘You’ll crawl on the floor soon.’ That’s what it sounded like to me.” (Adrian)

“Right. That’s really weird.” (Nina)

“What’s weird?” (Jean)

Jean bit his lips unevenly, so Nina said, turning her fingers round and round.

“They are competing for the throne, right? That’s why they should be trying to draw support from the nobles, but what she did today didn’t seem to want our support at all, rather······.”

Nina blurred the end of her speech.

“What is it?”

Jean urged, and the answer came from Adrian.

“It seemed like they were deciding who to choose.”

“That’s it.” (Nina)

Jean spoke with a sour face.

“Isn’t that supposed to mean that she’s confirmed as the heir? That’s why she’s being so pretentious.”

“I don’t think she’s that simple of a person. Rather, didn’t it feel like roguing for the closest manpower?”

“In what part? More than that, she didn’t even have a real conversation with us?”

How do you guys know?

“Young Master said it in the end. He said we’re not for entertainment.”

And the look on Adrian’s face and his reaction······.

Jean immediately understood and answered when Nina turned her finger toward her face.

“I don’t really get it.”

“As expected, right? She’s really scary, that person. Though she’s hard to understand.”

“It is natural for the Imperial Family. We don’t even know what they’re going to do next.”

Jean looked at the two alternately and stretched his shoulders.

“Why the hell did you put me in here if you were going to talk like this?”

Nina opened her eyes wide and laughed.

“What’s wrong? You’re also one of the parties involved, Jean. You were there when Adian was having a conversation with the princess. Didn’t you also think that she was trying to strengthen her imperial power? That’s why she wanted to have a match between me, the commander of the Duke of Luverne’s Dark Knights, and the commander of the Lily Knights.”

“How does that make sense? If you win, wouldn’t the prestige of the Lily Knights fall?”

If the Commander of the Imperial Knights is smashed by the Commander of the Duke’s Knights, he will be embarrassed.

“Well, that was before.”

Jean groaned at Nina’s words and said.

“Since the people at the top are not involved before, is that it?”

“That’s right.”

Nina nodded her head.

In simple terms, they wanted to eliminate the Duke of Luverne’s commander of the Duke’s Knight.

If they want to fight, then just ask for a fight. What’s the big deal?

I’m always ready anyway.

So when the Duke of Luverne went against her words – that perhaps we’ll accept the provocation for a duel – she must’ve felt really humiliated.

She didn’t hide it from her expression.

If you were part of the royal family, you would naturally dream of strengthening your imperial authority or the central power.

Of course, it’s also really tempting for nobles.

“The nobility proudly have an armed group called the Knights Orders. Though they’re not as good as the emperor’s. But of course, since there are bellacs, the knights could only focus their attention on them, and can’t disperse their powers anywhere else. The only thing they couldn’t ignore instead of minding bellacs is the Emperor.”

The palace is the only place where the knights can be sent to other places.

The imperial power was solid because the nobility knights were constantly using up their strength in bellacs.

If the Duke was on the verge of collapsing because of the bellacs, the only place to send a rescue request was the Imperial Palace.

Or maybe the Knights Templar?

Nina continued.

“The Dark Knights used to have a 50 percent mortality rate. Once a bellac appeared, the damage was great.”

The Duke had neither the time nor power to confront the royal family. But of course, that was then.

Nina stretched herself out and flopped on the sofa.